This study was aimed at investigating the phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity of rhizomes, above-ground vegetative parts and flowers of three Iris species: Iris humilis Georgi, Iris pumila L. and Iris variegata L. UHPLC-Orbitrap MS analysis was used for determination of phytochemical profile. Total pigments, phenolics, flavonoids, soluble sugars and starch content as well as ABTS antioxidant capacity were also determined. In total, 52 phenolics compounds were identified with 9 compounds (derivatives of iriflophenone, apigenin C-glycosides, luteolin O-glycoside, isoflavones derivatives of iristectorigenin, dichotomitin, nigracin and irilone) never reported before in Iris spp. Differences in phenolic composition profile, pigments, soluble sugar, starch, total phenolics and flavonoids content and total antioxidant capacity were found among Iris species and different part of plants. Significant correlation between total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity was determined. The obtained results are comparable with those obtained for medical plants. These findings could be useful for fingerprinting characterization of Iris species and estimation of possible use in pharmaceutical industries.
Keywords: Iris humilis; Iris pumila; Iris variegate; LC/MS; phenolics; phytochemistry.
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